Pet Safe Food – Your Home Pet Care

The holiday season is upon us and your furry friend will be befriending new people and getting reacquainted with old ones who are visiting from out of town. This typically means pets will be putting their best paw forward in attempts to woo your guests into handing out special table treats during their stay. While we support new and fun enrichment, it’s important to make sure any scraps they get a hold of are safe for them to eat. Below, we have compiled a list of human-grade foods that are safe for dogs and cats to consume, along with a brief nutritional explanation for each item. Feel free to keep this list handy to help educate your guests, and for future reference should your pet consume food that is not part of their diet. For a list of unsafe foods for pets to ingest also check out: Toxic Food and Plants.

Proteins

Beef – plain cooked lean cuts are best
Chicken – plain and cooked only, remove bones due to choking hazard
Eggs – cooked only to avoid the risk of exposure to salmonella and other bacteria
Fish such as salmon or tuna (both are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can decrease inflammation and help keep your pet’s coat and skin healthy), cooked and boneless
Lamb – high in zinc and selenium
Turkey – plain and cooked, remove bones due to choking hazard
Pork – plain, cooked only due to risk of bacteria
Shrimp – plain, cooked, high in phosphorus, antioxidants, and vitamin B-12

Nuts

Almonds – only in very limited quantities, as they are difficult for dogs to digest
Cashews – plain, unsalted and roasted, limit intake as they are high in fat
Peanuts – limited consumption as they are also high in fat, make sure they are unsalted
Peanut Butter – only plain and unsalted, high in fat and can be too rich for some animals’ stomachs, so limit intake

Fruits

Apples – remove core and seeds as they contain cyanide, high in fiber, low in fat, and contain vitamin A and C which are good for bone and tissue health
Apricots – remove pit, stem, and leaves because these parts are toxic, a good source of potassium and beta-carotene which can fight against cancer
Bananas – high in potassium and fiber, give sparingly
Blackberries – high in minerals, vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants
Blueberries – high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C
Cantaloupe – remove skin and seeds, contains vitamins A, B, and C
Cranberries – raw, cooked, or dried is fine, high in vitamin C, fiber, and manganese
Mangoes – be sure to remove skin and pit, which contain cyanide, high in vitamin A and C, fiber, folate, B6, and iron
Oranges – the fleshy part of the fruit ONLY as all other parts have oils that are toxic, high in vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and copper
Pears – good source of vitamin A, C, and K, fiber, and potassium remove seeds because they contain cyanide.
Pineapple – limited quantities, remove spiky skin and core, high in vitamin C, manganese, folate, and zinc
Raspberries – a good source of fiber and vitamin C, quercetin, ellagic acid, and gallic acid, which are anti-inflammatories and could fight against cancer risks, limit intake
Strawberries – can have fresh or frozen, high in vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium
Watermelon – contains vitamins A, B-6, C, and potassium, 92% water so this is also a great way to hydrate your pet

Vegetables

Asparagus – chop into small bites and cook, high in vitamin K and E, zinc, selenium, manganese, potassium, and fiber
Bell Peppers (red, green, orange and yellow are all okay) – full of beta-carotene, vitamin A, K1, and E, fiber, folate, and antioxidants
Broccoli – high in fiber and vitamin C and K, limited amounts
Brussel Sprouts – cooked only, full of vitamin C and K
Cabbage – shredded over food in moderation, high in fiber, beta-carotene, may reduce cancer risks
Carrots – high in fiber, beta-carotene, biotin, vitamins A, B6, K and are great for cleaning teeth
Cauliflower – cooked or raw, a good source of phytonutrients which can reduce cancer risks, fiber, and choline
Celery – high water content, a great source of fiber, can freshen pet breath

Corn – plain cooked kernels, limited amounts: 1-2T per day, high in magnesium, fiber, and carotenoids
Cucumber – high in vitamins C, K, and magnesium
Green Beans – fresh, frozen, or canned (sodium-free), a good source of iron, silicon, fiber, and protein
Lettuce – high in water content and fiber, cut into thin slices and sprinkle on top of regular food
Mushrooms – store-bought only such as portobello, be careful with mushrooms and never feed your pet mushrooms if you don’t know which species it is
Peas – a good source of vitamin B, potassium, and thiamin
Potatoes – cooked only because raw potatoes contain solanine which is toxic, high in carbohydrates, so limited amounts is best
Pumpkin – high in fiber and can help pets suffering from constipation and diarrhea
Spinach – high in a large span of vitamins and minerals including folic acid, iron, calcium, B6, B9, and E, give in small amounts and avoid giving it to pets with kidney disease
Sweet Potatoes – cooked only, rich in vitamin A which supports eye health and immune system, as well as thiamine, niacin, and copper
Zucchini – good source of vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium

Grains

Bread – plain white or whole grain, *never allow pets to consume raw yeast as it can lead to ethanol toxicosis which is poisonous and will likely cause death
Couscous – good source of niacin, manganese, copper, magnesium
Millet – high in manganese, protein, fiber, and B vitamins
Oatmeal – High in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, plain only – no flavored ones due to a high sugar content
Popcorn – plain air-popped only, contains riboflavin and thiamine
Quinoa – high in manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, a good alternative for corn, wheat, or soy
Rice – plain white or brown, white is higher in iron and folate and brown is higher in vitamins and minerals

Dairy

Cheese – small amounts, hard cheeses are best (ex: gouda, cheddar, or swiss)
Milk – limited amounts and only if your pet is not lactose intolerant, plain only
Yogurt – plain greek yogurt is best, avoid any flavored yogurt as they are packed with sugar

Supplements

Coconut or Coconut Oil – small amounts, contain lauric acid which combats bacteria and viruses, the oil can help with clearing up skin conditions like hot spots, flea allergies, and itchy skin
Fish Oil – can aid in decreasing inflammation, good for joint, fur, and skin health
Honey – only in limited amounts as it is high in sugar

You can now put your mind at ease knowing that you are able to provide informed answers to your guest’s questions about what they are allowed to feed your pets. Not only are these foods a safe treat for your cat or dog, but they are also great supplements to add to their normal diet routines. Feeding your pets these human-grade foods will help provide them with access to a multitude of necessary vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy for years to come. Cheers to a safe and fun holiday season for you and your furry friends!

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Credit: Robin Laclede